Director Shareholding

Marks & Spencer PLC
5 January 2001

DIRECTOR SHAREHOLDING

5 January 2001

Following the appointment of Roger Holmes as an Executive Director on 1
January 2001, we have been informed today that:

Roger Holmes holds Executive options under the rules of the Marks and Spencer
p.l.c. 2000 Executive Share Option Scheme as follows:

NUMBER OF SHARES GRANTED     871,897

SHARE PRICE          195p

These options are exercisable between 3 and 10 years from the date of grant
and are subject to performance criteria on exercise.

The Marks and Spencer p.l.c. Employee Benefit Trust is holding 282,326 Marks
and Spencer shares at a price of 194.81p per share on behalf of Roger Holmes.
Under the terms of the Trust, these shares will be held in his name and will
vest after three years, at which time they will cease to be subject to
forfeiture or the various other restrictions imposed by the Trust.

In addition to the above holding, Roger Holmes holds 3,130 shares jointly with
his wife Katherine Holmes.

Mr Holmes' total shareholding in Marks and Spencer currently stands at 285,456
shares.


MISS P J BEARD

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